Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Blizzard winds, heavy snow set to whack southern Minnesota overnight

Twin Cities region expected to get another 8-11 inches

Blizzard and winter storm warnings 9
Blizzard and winter storm warnings
Twin Cities National Weather Service office

The main body of our multiday snow system works across Minnesota overnight into Thursday morning.

The storm’s second wave came in slowly late Wednesday afternoon, but forecast models have always suggested the peak snowfall rates and highest winds will occur Wednesday night into early Thursday morning.

Pedestrians walk down Nicollet Avenue
Pedestrians walk down Nicollet Avenue Wednesday as snow begins falling in Minneapolis.
Stephen Maturen for MPR News

Blizzard warnings remain in effect for most of southern Minnesota, including Twin Cities outer ring counties to the west and south.

Including the cities of Monticello, Hutchinson, Gaylord, Chanhassen, Chaska, Victoria, Shakopee, St Peter, Le Sueur, Faribault, Mankato, Waseca, Owatonna, Fairmont, Blue Earth, and Albert Lea

1258 PM CST Wed Feb 22 2023

..BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions. Additional snow accumulations of 8 to 12 inches. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph.

* WHERE...Portions of central, east central and south central Minnesota.

* WHEN...Until noon CST Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.

Snowfall overnight

Weather models, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s NAM 3 km system, show the heaviest snowfall moving across Minnesota between about 10 p.m. Wednesday and 7 a.m. Thursday.

The loop below runs between 6 p.m. Wednesday and noon Thursday:

NOAA NAM 3 km model 6
NAM 3 km model between 6 p.m. Wednesday and noon Thursday
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, via Tropical Tidbits

Additional snowfall

The remaining overnight and morning snowfall will add up to significant totals across southern and central Minnesota.

Snowfall projection 66
Additional snowfall projection
NOAA

Here’s a wider look at additional accumulations for Minnesota.

Snowfall projection for Minnesota 5
Snowfall projection for Minnesota
NOAA

High winds

One element that is different from Tuesday’s snow is the addition of higher winds overnight into Thursday. Wind gusts of 40 mph will whip snow around through much of Thursday.

Forecast wind gusts
Forecast wind gusts
Twin Cities National Weather Service office

Expect a very difficult rush hour Thursday morning before snow and wind decrease later Thursday.